Improvement in heels of boots and shoes



A. O. CRANE.

improvement in Heels of Boots and Shoes Noymm.

Patented )une 6, i871.

www M Wnesses (rg0/Ww- Maser .innen-r o. CRANE, or Bestron,MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HEELS GF BGOTS AND SHES.`

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 115,581, dated .l une6, 1871.

Be it known that I, ALBERT O. CRANE, of Boston, in the Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in theConstruction of Heels for Boots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full and exact description thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

My invention consists in making, as a new article of manufacture, animproved lift or riser, by which the tread of heel and the toe part ofthe sole are upon the same plane, and which in other respects,hereinafter described, is peculiarly adapted to a rotating heel.

In the drawing hereto annexed, Figure 1 represents my improvement with arotating heel upon it, and both xed upon a boot, Fig. 2 represents thelift of a circular shape, and adapted to any heels of that form. Thecircular lines drawn in it show the guides for center and peg lines.Fig. 3 represents the lift fitted for the rotating heel. Fig. 4.represents the metallic stud upon which the rotating heel revolves. Fig.5 represents a section vertical of the said lift with a rotating heelupon it.

In Fig. 3, a represents the central excavation extending part waythrough the lift to receive the stud of the revolving heel. b brepresent the excavations to receive the points of the stud. crepresents the hole for the fastening-screw. d d d represent the groovemade to receive the ridge or tongue on the revolving heel. e e erepresent the holes for the fastening-nails.

In Fig. 5, f represents the tongue or ridge tted into the groove d inthe lift. g represents the stud and holding point as they are fixed inthe heel and lift when on the shoe. h represents the fastening-screw.

I make the lift or riser of any suitable ma terial and of any desiredshape for'the heel form, but of a wedge-shapez. e., thicker at the rearthan at the front-in order that the top lift or tread of the Aheelshall, when in use, be on the same plane with the sole at the ball ofthe foot. The dierence in thickness at the rear and front varies withthe size of the heel. In mens shoes above N 5g and womens above No. 5the rear part should be about three thirty-seconds of an inch thickerthan the front. In shoes of sizes smaller than those above namedonesixteenth of an inch will suffice. A lift or riser thus shaped servesas a suicient foundation for the subsequent lifts, and insures in anyheels made after any model or in any manner the proper relation andlevel between the tread of the heel and the toe or ball part oi' thesole.

I consider myvimprovement oi' most value when used in connection withthe rotating heel for which Letters Patent were issued to me datedDecember 15, A. D. 1868, and numbered 84,8@15 but it is of great valuein the construction of any heels.

When used in connection with said rotating heels I make it of acomposition of rubber with other materials, such as heels and solescalled rubber heels 7 and rubber soles are usually made of; but anymaterial sufficiently tenacious and enduring will an! swer.

Before vulcanizing I give to the heel the following peculiar features bymeans of a mold-that is to say: First, its wedge-shape. Second, anexcavation in the center, of the size and shape fitted to receive thestud upon which said heel rotates, to about half the depth of the lift,and havin ga hole or holes within it still deeper to receive the holdingpoints ot' said stud, by which it (the stud) is held from revolving withthe heel, and having also a hole through the center to receive thefastening-screw. Third, about mid way between said central excavationand the circumference a shallow groove to receive a tongue or ridgemolded on said heel, to give firmness to thewhole structure. Fourth,holes for the fastening-nails around and near the periphery of the lift.Of these features I regard the central excavation as the most important5 but any or all may be dispensed with. I prefer to use all.

In case of ordinary heels this lift affords to the user the advantage ofsecuring the proper plane on which subsequent lifts can be placed, and,in case the heel is worn down, it is a sufficient foundation for a newone. If

'2 limsi.

used with the rotating` heel it furnishes the by a tongue and groove,substantially as and central point for the stud punetures for the forthe purposes described.

. holding points7 and a foundation on which ALBERT O. CRANE.

any person can, by u screw, x a new rotating Y heel. v Witnesses:

I claiml). F. HoDGEs, o A lift inserted between the sole of the bootW'ILLIAM STAND'ISH.

or shoe and the heel, and matched to said heel

